'Strictly Come Dancing' week eight: Our top five dances

The Strictly eliminations are getting tougher every weekend, with very few weak dancers left in the competition. Victoria Pendleton was the latest to say an emotional farewell to the dancefloor on Sunday, but who leaves next is anyone's guess.

Reality Bites has picked out its top five routines of the weekend, but the decision was made tougher than ever by a few surprising slips in form and a gang of leaderboard toppers who were closer together than ever.

5. Nicky Byrne & Karen Hauer - CharlestonWe hadn't heard '90s one hit wonder 'Doop' by Doop on a Saturday night post-1994, so that was a surprise turn-up for the books. This gave Nicky valuable bonus points to accompany his fizzing, load-of-welly charleston that had more colour than one of Richard Arnold's shirts.

Michael Vaughan & Natalie Lowe - Argentine tangoVaughany is still struggling in the Latin, but purely for managing to get through the routine without ogling Natalie Lowe's legs, he gets bonus points from us. Wowza.

3. Kimberley Walsh & Pasha Kovalev - TangoIt wasn't the Girls Aloud's star's finest routine of the series, but she brings her natural sex appeal to even the most dark and moody tangos and sells every performance on the show as well as anybody in the competition.

Denise Van Outen and James Jordan - American SmoothIf Denise doesn't win the series, some viewers will no doubt declare it an outrage. She's barely put a foot wrong all series. This American smooth was no different - a breathtaking performance.

Dani Harmer & Vincent Simone - SambaOn a night where the judges seemed particularly harsh, Dani and Vincent's cheeky samba was a ray of light. Dani's solo start showed bravery from the young actress and extra marks go to Vincent Simone for his superb eyebrow wiggles.